Valve and bag loader



Sept. 17, 1957 G. W. ARMSTRONG VALVE AND BAG LOADER Filed April 22, 1955 2.. l n' a" mu" INVENTOR. GEORGE W. ARMSTRONG v ATTORNEYS United States atent VALVE AND BAG LOADER George Wendell Armstrong, Fairhorn, Ohio, assignor to O. B. Armstrong and Son Company, Fairborn, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 22, 1955, Serial No. 503,772

7 Claims. (Cl. 141-317) This invention relates to valves especially adapted for use on hoppers containing grain or other flowable granulated materials and to a bag loader adapted for use in combination with the said valve.

The dispensing of grains and similar fairly fluid granulated materials from hoppers and the like is ordinarily controlled by a valve mechanism in a discharge opening leading from the hopper with the valve ordinarily being the type that slides in a straight line.

Valves of this nature are quite satisfactory for controlling the flow when they are adjusted to their various positions but possess certain outstanding disadvantages.

One disadvantage of a flat slide valve of this type is that the entire weight of the material pressing thereagainst must be carried by the guide ways in which the valve slides, thus leading to a resistance of the valve member to move and also leading to excessive wear of the valve member and the guides therefor.

Still another disadvantage of a flat valve member of the nature referred to is that the valve member must be reinforced or made of heavy material in order to prevent warping and bending and possible failure of the valve member when the weight which it supports is extremely heavy.

Having the foregoing in mind, it is a particular object of the present invention to provide a valve structure for controlling the flow of grains and other flowable granulated materials which will avoid the difficulties referred to above that have characterized valve structures that are presently known in the art.

A still further object is the provision of a valve structure of the nature referred to which is extremely easy to operate and will remain in any adjusted position.

Another particular object of this invention is the provision of a valve structure of the nature referred to which is substantially free of wear and thus has extremely long life.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a combination of a valve of the nature referred to together with a novel bag supporting arrangement to enable a Workman readily to support a bag beneath the valve whereby the combination forms an extremely convenient bag loader.

It is also an object to provide in combination with a valve such as described, means associated with the housing thereof for supporting a bag to be filled by a material controlled by the valve.

A still further object is the provision of a valve structure of the nature referred to which is relatively inexpensive to construct and which can readily be installed on most existing storage equipment.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a feed hopper or the like having a valve and bag loader combination according to the present invention associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged perspective view showing the bag loader and valve in elevation;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the valve and bag loader indicated by line 3--3 on Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plane view moving in on the valve and bag loader structure in about the direction of the arrow 4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view indicated by line 5-5 on Figure 2 showing the manner in which the valve member fits within a recess in the side wall of the valve housing;

Figure 6 is a sectional view indicated by line 6-6 on Figure 2 showing a bead formed about the discharge opening of the valve housing and forming a part of the bag loader according to this invention; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view indicated by line 7-7 on Figure 4 showing a seal arrangement associated with the movable valve member of the valve at the point where it emerges from the valve housing.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, Figure 1 shows a feed hopper or bin 10 or this may be a storage compartment for any sort of granular flowable material which might consist of grain, ground feed, granulated coal, sand, gravel or any of several other such materials.

Hopper 10 is provided with a conical bottom portion I 12 having a discharge opening therein to which is fitted the valve structure 14 of the present invention.

With reference to Figures 2 to 7, it will be revealed that the valve structure comprises a housing part 16 having flange means as at 18 for connection with the feed hopper as by means of the screws 20. Housing 16 forms a discharge passageway generally rectangular in cross section which preferably terminates in a horizontally disposed opening 22 at the bottom thereof.

According to the present invention, the passage of material through the discharge passage formed by the valve housing is controlled by an arcuate valve member 24.

Valve member 24 is adapted for passing through a transverse slot 26 in the upper front wall of the valve housing and when the passageway is closed, the valve member abuts the lower rear wall of the valve housing as at 28.

According to the present invention, valve member 26 is formed as a portion of a cylinder about an axis 30 on which axis are located the pivot pins 32 in the side walls of the valve housing.

Externally of the valve housing a bar 34 at each side of the said housing engages the pivot pin at the bottom and is connected with the outermost edge of the valve member at the top. These bars 34 may advantageously consist of a U-shaped strap member having a portion extending transversely across beneath the outer edge of the valve member as at 36.

Inside the housing and also having their one ends connected to the pivot pins 32 are other bars 38 leading up to and connected with the inner edge of valve member 26. Bars 30$ may also take the form of a U-shaped strap memher having a portion extending transversely across beneath the rear edge of the valve member and connected therewith as at 40.

The outer edge of the valve member is preferably formed over the edge of the horizontal portion of the strap that is connected with the bars 34 and extendingoutwardly from this edge of the valve member is a handle 42 by means of which the valve: member is moved about pivot axis 30 for opening andclosing the discharge passage through the valve. I

clip 46 and screws 48.

3 This element is preferably inside the valve housing but may be positioned outside if desired.

The side edges of the valve member are preferably received in arcuate grooves 50 pressed into the side walls of are valve naming between the valve er and the side walls 'o'f the valve hdus'iiig to nt t he 'niateiial edmr'oned by the valve member from idle-ling -'-theie'thiough;

The present inven ion also contemplates the provision or 'a eagsasporaag arrangement which has i i ar utility in connection with the valve of the prese'ntirive'ntion.

The bag "loader pert-ion "(if the structure comprises the beads 22 which extend 'rally outwardly from the side walls of the valve musing as Will be particularly noted in figure 6. s

This bead may quire ednvenienny be formed by using a rod or tubing and binliifgdtto a U-shape so that a'portioii extends across beneath "the rorvvarambst tip of the valve iii'einb'er and the qegsrnereer extend alon'g th'e'sidcs of the valve member as will be sen in Figure 2.

The portions of the U-sh'aped'bar'along the side edges of the valve in'eiiib'e'r project outwardly therefrom to.

provide support for a bag, but that portion extending across the fr'ont-ofthe valve'housin'gcah be located therebeneath since the 'iriclin'ed front wall of the valve housing will provide support for a b'agas will be seen hereinafter. 4

The ends of thcl'e'gsof'the 'U-s'hap'e'drod project rearwardly of the back wall of the valve 52 and extending transversely thereb'etween is a portion of the back wall of the housing which are been turned'backwardly and then the edge rolled under as will be seen at 54 in Figure 3. This transversely extending fiat portion could, of course, be formed by a separatebar orstrap if desired.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and the illustrations of the valve that all of the thrusts on the valve member, due to the material Within the hopper which it supports, will be carried by the bars 32 and and that the valve member will not be'pressed against the guide ways 5% providedin the walls of the v'alve'housing therefor.

Because'of this'the'valve member is very easy to shift in any direction at any time regardless of the material Within the hopper or the weight which the material bears on the valve member.

It will also be apparent that the valve member will remain'in any position'to which it is adjusted because all of the thrusts imposed thereon-are radial and are borne directly on pivot pins 32.

The bars 38 disposed closely inside the side walls of the valve member will act as straightening elements to keep the side walls of the'valve member free of dust and particles of them'aterial flowing through the valve at all times.

The bag loader portion of the valve structure is utilized by placing a bag, either paper "or cloth, about the open lower end of the valve housing and gathering the mouth of the bag at the front of the valve housing whereby an extreme upper edge of the bag will be retained about the valve housing above the bead formed by the U-shaped bar about the mouth of the valve outlet and the flat portion at 54 across the back. A bag so supported on the mouth of the valve can be held thereon easily until completely filled.

The holding up of the bag on the valve can readily be done with one hand and the valve member controlled with the other so that the combination, according to this invention, provides an extremelyconvenient bag loader.

It will be apparent that the exact structure of the valve, particularly as to the housing thereof at the inlet end, could readily be modified to adapt it to different types of hoppers or storage bins without departing from any of the principles of this invention.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible 4 to modification in order to adapt it to diiferent usages and conditions, and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a valve of the nature described; a valve housing generally rectangular in cross section forming a discharge passage, a slot in the front wall of said housing, an arcuate valve member extending into said housing through said slot and movable for opening and closing said slot, said valve member being in the form of a portion of a cylinder the axis of which is adjacent the lower end of said housing, pivot pins in said housing on said axis, a first pair of bars extending from said pivot pins to the outer edge of said valve member externally of said housing, and a second pair of bars extending from said pivot pins to the inner edge of said valve member internally of said housing, the said bars internally of said housing being located closely adjacent thte walls of said housing to keep said housing free of an-a'ccumulati'on of dust or the like, there being arcuate recesses in the "side walls of said housing sealingly to receive the side edges of said valve member.

2. In a valve forcontro'lling 'the flow of granular materials such as seed or grain "or the like; a sheet 'metal valve housing generally rectangular in cross section forming a discharge passage and-having means at its upper end for connection of the valv'e'housingwi th ahop'per or storage bin or the like, "the lower endof said valve'housing terminating in a discharge opening positioned in a substantially horizontal plane, the front wall of said valve housing having a transverse'sl'ot therein, an arcuate valve member in the form of a portion of a cylinder concave downwardly extending into said *slotandmovable f r opening and closing said passage, 'the'center lof'curvature of said valve member being positioned Withinjthe limits of said housing adjacent to'the'bot'to'm thereof, pivot pins in said housing'on 'said' center ofcurvatu re, a'n'dbar means extending from said pivot pins wholly externally of said housing to the 'outer edge of said'valve member and wholly internally thereof to 'theinner edge of said valve member whereby all thrusts of said valve member are sustained on said pivot pins.

3. In a valve for c'oritrollingthe new 'of granular-materials such as seed or grain or the like; a sheet metal valve housing generallyrectangular'incross sectionforming a discharge passage 'an d-havin'g'means atits'upp'er end for connection of the valve housing witha hopper 'o-r storage-bin orthe-likethe *lowerends of -said'valve housing terminating'in'a discharge opening-positioned in a substantially horizontal plane, the rromwan of said valve housing'having at'ra-nsverse slot therein, an arcuate valve member in the form of a portion of a cylinder concave downwardly extendinginto said's'lot and movable for opening and closing said passage, the center of curvature of said valve member beingpositionedwithin the limits of said hous'ing'adja'cent to the bottom thereof, pivot pins in said housingon said center of curvature, and bar means extending from said pivot pins externally of said housing to the outer edge of said valve member-and internally thereof to the inner edge of said valve member whereby all thrusts on-said valve'me'mber are sustained on said pivot pinsfthe side-walls of said valve member comprising arcuate recesses and the side edges of said valve member extending into said recesses to'provide a seal at the said side'edges of the valve member.

'4. In a valve for controlling the flow of granular materials such as seed or grain or the like; a sheet metal valve housing generally rectangular in cross section forming a discharge passage and havingmeans at its upper end for connection of the valve housing with a h0ppcr or storage bin or the "like, the loweneridsof'said'valve housing terminating in a discharge opening positioned in a substantially horizohtal plane, the front wall of said valve housing having a transverse sl'ot therein, an arcuate V valve member in the form of a portion of a cylinder concave downwardly extending into said slot and movable for opening and closing said passage, the center of curvature of said valve member being positioned within the limits of said housing adjacent to the bottom thereof, pivot pins in said housing on said center of curvature, and bar means extending from said pivot pins externally of said housing to the outer edge of said valve member and internally thereof to the inner edge of said valve member whereby all thrusts on said valve member are sustained on said pivot pins, there being flexible sealing means between said valve member and said valve housing along the top of said slot, and the side walls of said housing being formed with grooves sealingly receiving the side edges of said valve member.

5. In a valve for controlling the flow of granular materials such as seed or grain or the like; a sheet metal valve housing generally rectangular in cross section forming a discharge passage and having means at its upper end for connection of the valve housing with a hopper or storage bin or the like, the lower ends of said valve housing terminating in a discharge opening positioned in a substantially horizontal plane, the front wall of said valve housing having a transverse slot therein, an arcuate valve member in the form of a portion of a cylinder concave downwardly extending into said slot and movable for opening and closing said passage, the center of curvature of said valve member being positioned within the limits of said housing adjacent to the bottom thereof, pivot pins in said housing on said center of curvature, and bar means extending from said pivot pins externally of said housing to the outer edge of said valve member and internally to the inner edge of said valve member whereby all thrusts of said valve member are sustained on said pivot pins, groove means formed in the side walls of said valve housing into which the side edges of the valve member extends, and there being sealing means between the upper surface of said valve member and the valve housing at said slot.

6. In a bag loader; a valve of the nature described comprising a rectangular valve housing extending downwardly and forwardly at an angle and terminating in a substantially horizontal discharge opening, and means forming a bead around at least three sides of said opening of said valve housing for supporting a bag when drawn about the said opening said bead comprising a horizontal portion projecting from the back of the housing and a U- shaped rod fixed across the front of the housing and along the sides thereof so as to project from the said sides.

7. In combination; a valve of the nature referred to having a substantially rectangular housing terminating in a substantially horizontal discharge opening, the front wall of said housing being inclined toward the rear, a valve member in said valve housing for controlling the flow of material therethrough, and means for supporting a bag about the mouth of said valve housing comprising beads extending outwardly from the side walls of said valve housing, and a substantially flat portion extending rearwardly from the back wall of said valve housing between said beads whereby a bag drawn about the mouth of said valve housing and gathered at said front wall will be supported thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,441,608 Stewart Jan. 9, 1923 1,639,517 Lassen Aug. 16, 1927 1,907,773 Fisher et al. May 9, 1933 2,317,007 Weinger Apr. 20, 1943 

